For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of bachelor’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Georgia’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Georgia College
96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate231 West Hancock Street
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
https://www.gcsu.edu96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 99 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#2: Kennesaw State University
95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate1000 Chastain Road
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
https://www.kennesaw.edu95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 200 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#3: Reinhardt University
95.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate7300 Reinhardt Circle
Waleska, Georgia 30183
https://www.reinhardt.edu95.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2020 through 2021
#4: College of Coastal Georgia
93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne College Drive
Brunswick, Georgia 31520
https://www.ccga.edu93.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#5: Georgia Gwinnett College
93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043
https://www.ggc.edu93.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 50 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2021
#6: Piedmont University
92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate165 Central Avenue
Demorest, Georgia 30535
https://www.piedmont.edu92.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 61 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#7: University of North Georgia
91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate82 College Circle
Dahlonega, Georgia 30597
https://www.ung.edu91.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 149 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#8: Mercer University
91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate3001 Mercer University Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30341
https://www.mercer.edu91.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 144 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#9: Emory University
90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
https://www.emory.edu90.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 227 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#10: Gordon State College
90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate419 College Drive
Barnesville, Georgia 30204
https://www.gordonstate.edu90.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 28 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021
#11: Georgia Southwestern State University
90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate800 Georgia Southwestern State University Drive
Americus, Georgia 31709
https://www.gsw.edu90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 44 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#12: LaGrange College
90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate601 Broad Street
LaGrange, Georgia 30240
https://www.lagrange.edu90.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 34 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#13: Georgia State University
89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate33 Gilmer Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
https://www.gsu.edu89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 128 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#14: Berry College
88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate2277 Martha Berry Highway NW
Mount Berry, Georgia 30149
https://www.berry.edu88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#15: Augusta University
88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate1120 15th Street
Augusta, Georgia 30912
https://www.augusta.edu88.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 174 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#16: Wesleyan College
87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate4760 Forsyth Road
Macon, Georgia 31210
https://www.wesleyancollege.edu87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 29 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#17: Middle Georgia State University
87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 University Parkway
Macon, Georgia 31206
https://www.mga.edu87.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 95 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#18: Clayton State University
87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate2000 Clayton State Boulevard
Morrow, Georgia 30260
https://www.clayton.edu87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 87 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#19: Chamberlain University - Atlanta
87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road NE, Suite A100
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
https://www.chamberlain.edu87.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 249 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2014 through 2021
#20: Valdosta State University
86.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate1500 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, Georgia 31698
https://www.valdosta.edu86.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 91 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#21: University of West Georgia
86.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, Georgia 30118
https://www.westga.edu86.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 111 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#22: Albany State University
85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate504 College Drive
Albany, Georgia 31705
https://www.asurams.edu85.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 12 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#23: Brenau University
85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate500 Washington Street SE
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
https://www.brenau.edu85.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 84 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#24: Georgia Southern University
85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate2670 Southern Drive
Statesboro, Georgia 30460
https://www.georgiasouthern.edu85.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 264 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#25: Columbus State University
83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate4225 University Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31907
https://www.columbusstate.edu83.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 84 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#26: South College - Atlanta
78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate2600 Century Parkway NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
https://www.south.edu78.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 51 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2021 through 2021
#27: Shorter University
73.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate315 Shorter Avenue
Rome, Georgia 30165
https://www.shorter.edu73.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#28: Herzing University - Atlanta
66.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate3393 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
https://www.herzing.edu66.4% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#29: Truett McConnell University
63.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate100 Alumni Drive
Cleveland, Georgia 30528
https://www.truett.edu63.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 21 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2015 through 2021
#30: Toccoa Falls College
62.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate107 Kincaid Drive
Toccoa Falls, Georgia 30598
https://www.tfc.edu62.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 18 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2019 through 2021